Casing head



Nov.2,"19`37.` BURNS ErAL u 2,097,615

QASING HEAD 2 sheets-sheet 2 sa. f

Hneer Ph//rkneshnrf 2.0- smaller in idiameter. than, the outer ,lftnpsnrrs v l'his inventionrelatesfto adeviceior useona well 'and relates Aincre particularly "to 1a 1casilrig headvfor use'on the upper end of aawellv casing. i A general object oi this invention istox provide small and compact. t

t l5. 'a1practica1, effective casing head thtisfvery' `It is customary to provide a casing head on` the upper end ofthe casingor oasingsota deep wellsuch as an oil well orgaswell. The oentrai 10` longitudinal Vopening of a casing headrshouldbe as large inf diameter at its most restricted` point i `as`the openingfin the casing to whichit is applied. Because'of this requirement `it has'been the `usual practicetomake casingwhea'ds ofgreat y1.5. length ory vertical height to Vaccommodate"the slips, packers, e`tc'.,-fo`rV suspending and'fsealing aboutthe innercafsingor casings.l {Ihustheeasing heads that have been in general Vare large. bulky and heavy and are usuallycostly because i zo'of theirsize. i j

Another objectv of this invention is to `provide "'a casing head that isisnialhfcompact and light' in' weight,a`nd that enibodiesa lfiurn'ber" of simple. inexpensive parts."`

i' Anotherobject of the inventionols to provide 'al casing head Ifor arrangementen the upper, end

of` an outer casing and that is of height' for :vertical diinension and that is operable to' i `rry` or f suspend kanv inner casing co A)sid "eralply `Another object of thisl invention v a casing headoyf the -characten n i f i V embodies a simple.' effective `:ne ns for carrying or suspending an inner casing thatdo'es not `riecessitate the lengthening of the body and that is operable to suspend an inner casingniuch' smaller in dianieter than thefouter casing.

` j A further objecty o; this invention is to pro# vide a casin head of the character mentioned 40." embodying a novel and particularlyI t effective means for sealing or. packing oi between the in- ,i1

ner. casing ,and the body to prevent the loss'ior leakage of `pressure and fluid. i 1

t Another objectief the invention is to'provide a -headi'or awel] that is operable `toydependa'bly 'land and seal between an outer welicasingiand an inner casing.

Another object of the invention'istofprovlde i de .compactand` inexpensive landing headffm:`

mlandlnganouter casing and an innericasinmf' whichdescription reference is made toi the ac? Jiig. `1` fis a central longitudinal detailed `tional?fviev" of "one form of casing head-pro A t videdjby this invention showing it in positionon 5 the upperend of an outercasing and illustrating ian inner casing's .uspended by .thevhead Fig. 2 isfa reduced horizontal detailed sectional view Fig.l 1." Flg`.`3"ls"a fragmentary vertical detailed 1o l sectional view takensubstantially as indicatedby `line 3`3 on Fig. 1. Fig`.4'is` a vertical sectional viewof the'base of` another "form-of the'inven- "tion landing or suspending an oute'rfcasing. i Fig. i 5""is a viewsirnilar to Fig. 4 showing the head 15" *\fullyassembled and suspending and sealing about an innercasing,` and Fig. f6 is a ,viewtakenfas ``indicatedby line 6`6 onfFlgL 5;

The formlof the invention illustratediin Figs.

I"l,to`f3;inclusive,includes; generally, atbody'N 20 "adapted to be connected t0 the upper vendof an A "outerwell casing Gg-means Il in the body l0 for supporting or 'suspendingan'inner casing A. a

fflangesection or' uppersectionl! on the body il,

"andmeans i3 `for sealing or packing between the 25 body lillandtheinnerfcasing A. i

'lhebody l0 is an ular or tubularmernberl f"adapted to be attached tojor` applied to the upfp'erend of theouter well casing C. Inaccordi ,'-eincewiththe broaderaspects ofthe invention 30 vfthebodyHlmay'bemounted-on or attached to the casing'LC in any practical manner. In the :particularoase `illustrated in' the drawings the j jlower portion i lo! `the longitudinal body opening `H5 isf enlarged in diameter' andis screw threaded 35 jto receivekthe threaded upperffend portion ofthe i i. casingCfwhereby the body maybe threaded on lthecasing as shown in the drawings. In accord- Mancewith the invention the body Ill iscompa'ra- A itivelyrshort" and projects a relativelyshortdis- 40 tancef'above the upper-"vend of the casing C. outwardly projectingannular tlange is prof' vided on-theupper end of thebody IU' to receive vor connect with the upper section I2 as will be lhereinafter described. The upper `portion l1 of 45 thebody opening Iijis of enlarged diameterformingor providinga seat Il on the interior o! the "body l0. i The seat yil is preferably inclined i downwardly and inwardly as illustrated in Fig. l

pri the drawings. Gas outlets or ports I9 are 50 "Nprovidedfinithe upper Awallpof the body il. lIt yfisfaffeature of the inventionl thatthe portsjll cored or formed through the upper wall por- -tion otgthebody andthe danse" IG as clearly.

s'ho'wnin` Figs. 11an`d2 of the drawings, so that 551 t y. the ports I9 do not necessitate elongation of the body. Recesses 3 are provided in the interior of the body and extend through the seat I8 to put the ports I3 in communication with the interior of the casing C. Internally threaded bosses 20 may be provided at the ports I9 to receive the 22 conforms to and iits in the enlarged upper portion I1 of the body opening I5` and the spider"` is provided with a downwardly and inwardly inclined shoulder 23 which rests on or cooperates with the seat I8.` The cooperation of the shoulder 23 with the seat I8 of course supports the spider 22 in the body opening I5. 'I'he upper end of the spider 22 is preferably substantially flush with the upper end of the body I0. The spider 22 extendsdownwardly through the body opening I5 and projects into the upper end portion of the outer casing C. Itis this extension or projectionof the spider 22 into the casing -C that permitsthe body I0 to be of minimum vertical dimension as will be readily understood. The exterior ofthe lower portion of the spider 22 may be downwardlyand inwardlyy tapered to pass through the opening I5 and enter the casv ing C with suitable clearance. The lower end of the spider 22 may be in substantially the same horizontal plane as the lower end of the body III.y ,The spider 22 formed and mounted asvjust described may be of the same length or vertical ydimension as the body I0 without projecting beyond the upper or lower limits of the body. The

internal surface or wall 24 of the spider v22 `is tapered or inclined downwardly and inwardly.

V'I 'he means II for suspending the casing A includes slips 25 adapted to be seated in the spider 22 and operable to grip theinner casing A. The

slips 25 have transversely `curved and downwardly and inwardly inclined external surfaces 29 for cooperating with the inclined internal surface 24 of the spider 22. The inner sidesof the slips 25 are cylindrically concaved and provided with teeth 26 facing upwardly and inwardly, to

y grip the inner casing A. It will be noted that the spider 22 may be as longas the body III or may be longer than thebody I0 if desired and, therefore, has a long internal seat ,or surface 213 for carrying the slips 25. Accordingly, the slips 25 may be suiiciently long to electively and dependably support the inner casing A without requiring that the body I0 be of any greater length than illustrated in the drawings. In practice the upper ends of the slips 25 may be spaced some distance below the upper end of the. spider 22 when theslips are in active supporting engagement with the inner casing A. Threaded sockets 21 may be provided in the upper ends of the slips 25 lto receive threaded parts ofv lift-- ing tools. The adjacent longitudinal. edges or sides of the -slips 25 may have overlapping parts 28. i

The flange section or upper section I2 of the head is arranged at the upper end of the `body I0 to facilitate the connection of atubing head,l a nipple, a Christmas tree fitting or the like, to the casing head. The section I2 may be a simple integral member whose lower portion cono position illustrated in the drawings.

stitutes an annular ange 30 which opposes and is complementary to the ange I6 of the body. Bolts 3| extend through aligned openings 32 in the flanges I6 and 30 and nuts 33 are threaded on the bolts to connect the section I2 with the body I0. 'I'he upper portion 34 of the section I2 is tubular having a vertical opening which is at least as large in diameter as the opening of the inner casing A. In the preferred form of the invention the upper portion 340i' the section I2 is both internally and externally threaded to facilitate the connection of a tubing head,

Vnipple, pipe or the like, with the section I2. In

the particular case illustrated in the drawings we have shown a nipple 36 threaded in the portionner casing A. In practice the inner casing A is cut to extend some distance into the upper section` I2-and the ring 31 surrounds the casing A within the section I2. The ring 31 extends out- V`wardly across the upper ends of the slips 25 and the spider 22. An annular groove 38 is provided in the upper side of the ring 31 at or in communication with the vertical opening 39 of the ring. A gaskety or body 40 of packing such as lead or the like is arranged inthe groove 38. An annular rib or flange 4I projects from the` lower side of the section I2 and extends into the groove v38 to bear on the body of packing 48.

The means I3 includes or provides opposing i or registering annular grooves in the upper internal corner of the body I0 and the upper outer corner of the spider 22 which, together, form a groove 42 for carrying a gasket or body of packing 43. An annular rib or flange 44 projects downwardly from the ring 31 and extends into the groove 42 to bear on and compress the body of packing 43. When the parts arel assembled asrshown and the nuts 33 are tightened, the flange 4I bears downwardly on 'the body of packing 4D and urges or forces the ring 31 downwardly so that its iiange 44 is in turn pressed or forced against the body of packing 43. 'Ihus the pressures on the bodies 4of ypacking 40 and 43 are equalized. It will be clear that the body of packing 40 forms a tight effective seal between the inner casing A and the ring 31 and between vand the spider 22. Threaded sockets 45 may be provided in the upper side of the ring 31 to receive a lifting tool or tools to facilitate the handling of the ring. From the above it will be seen that the means I3 fully and effectively seals oi the upper end of the annular space between the outer string or casing C and the inner string or casing A.

Assuming that the outer casing C has been run into the well bore and cemented in -the usual manner, its upper section is cut at the desired point. and is threaded forthe reception of the body I0. The rbody ID may be readily threaded to the upper end of the casing C to be in the The drilling of the well is then continued until the well fr end of the o offthe desired "depth whereupon itheinner string of casing A; is run intothewellfV and cemented. Aniauxiliary spider or vothermeans (not shown)` may be employedto run the inner casing A into the well. After the cement sealing 22 is then `arranged inthe bodyopening I5 so` `that its shoulder bearson the seat I8.` Thei inner .casing is then put undera suitable tensile strainand the `slips 25areinserted in the spider -22 to grip the inner casingtA and maintain the tcnsile strain on the casing. `'Iheliody of packing I3 is then arranged in thegroove 42 andthe ring 1,31 carrying its body oi packing 40 is then'positioned so that it ange. =beax1s: on theibody of packing I3. Following the positioning oiixthe ring 31, the upper section .I2 is arranged in place and bolted to the `body I0. As described above,

"the tightening of the nuts causesthe flange i 4I to be forced downwardly against the body of packing 40 sopthata downward forceis transwmittedm the ring` a1,` The flange bearing,

downwardly against the body of` packing lll-iny forsuspending the inner casinglI. `when the A and` the ring N andbetween the inner casing suresan effective seal betweenthe inner casing i l and `the upper section I2, i The body of packthe body Iand the spider `22. Thus'an effective seal isfwprovided about theinner casing A -to preventtheleakage and loss of fluid and presf sure Followlnglthe installationof the casing headthe nipple 36 or a similar part, ,or 'a tubing head may be connected with the upper portion and the slips 25 Which extend into the outer casi ying A, the body Iiilmay be of a minimum vertical dimension. The body Iimay `bel made comparatively short without requiring that the spider 22 or the slips 25 beshortened. The ring 31 being arrangedjwithin they 'upper section `I2 does` not necessitate the lengthening of the body I0. 'Acl cordingly, the casing head of thepresentinvention `is small and compact and light in weight.'

EnA

The various parts of the head are simple and H inexpensive of `manufacture and are easy to handie and install. t

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs.

4, 5, and 6 of the drawings includes, generally, e

a base 5 0 adapted to be` connected with an outer casing a `body i 5I for arrangement` on the 4base 5m means IIfinjthevbody 5|for suspending an i inner `casing I, an upper section I2, and means i I3 for sealing between the body 5I and the inner or` deviceshown in Figs. 4,15,fand 6, is operableto land orgsecurelthe outer casing O and suspend the innercasing I and,V therefore, may be termed a landing head. `The base Si) of thehead is providedto `land or secure the u pper end ofthe outer casing O. The base 5 0 constitutes the lower part or section of the head' and i has a comparatively largehorizontal ange 52 l adapted to seat on a suitable support( In practice the iiange 50 `may rest on therioorF ofv the i cellarof the well derrick. 'I'lflebaseiiextenda "upwardlyfrom its iiange Stand `has a, central ,longitudinal opening 53 :forI rather closely ref nceiving the outerA casing OL` An outwardly-pro- `75` jecting radial flange Il is provided at the upper base u.; After the outer casing o lh'asbeen vrun Into-the well and .cemented in in the usual manner it is cut of! at its upper end andthe `base III is arranged on the support or viloor Fand is welded to theouter casing O as at.` so that a seal isprovided around the upper end of -the casing and so that the base supports or secures the .casing from itsupper end. The invention provides a nipple or tting Il for facilitating the connection of a blowout pre-V deepened `to receiveithe inner casing I. The tit- ,ting 56 has a ilange I1 atits lower end adapted to oppose the ange Il. AThe iiange Muhasan annular groove 58 -in itsupper end for carrying 'packing 59. An annular ange or tongue ll on the lower`fao'e `of the il'anlell is adapted to enter the groove il and bear on the packing Il,

Studs or boltsII are arranged through openings .62 in the ilanges Il and Il to connect the ntting` 56 with the base Il and to compress the packing 59; The fitting IC `may beinternally or externally threaded to receives pipe orpart Il of a blowoutpreventenf The bodv BI is provided to carrythe means II well has, been drilled or` deepened to receive the inner casing I the inner casing is run intothe vwell and cemented in` the Avmanner. The fitting 56 is removed from thebase 4Il and the body 5I is positioned on' thef upper end oi' the base 50.. Itis to be understood that it may be the vinner casing, has been cemented in the well.

-The body 5I is a tubular member having a central longitudinal opening 8l." The body opening 64 receives or passes the inner casing I with considerable clearance andv has an upwardly facing inclined shoulder 66; A rib or tongue 61 is prorvided on the lowerface of; the' lower body ilange 6 5 and-is adapted to enterthelgroove I8 to compress the packing 59. Fluid ports `68 are provided in the wall of the body 8|. In the particular'case illustrated'in Vthe drawings the ports Il are threaded to receive the end portions of the conduits or pipes M for, conducting the fluid. Recesses 'I0 are. providedA in the interior of the body 5i and extend downwardly from the ports `|58 past the shoulder 66 to maintain the pipes in communication with the interior of the outer casing O aswlll be hereinafter described.V

The means IIfor suspending the inner casing `I. the upper section i2 and the packing means 4i3 may .beidentical with the means II. the section I2 and the packing means I3 oi' the previously described form of the invention and corresponding reference numerals have been employed in Figs. 5 and 6 to indicate ytheir respective parts and elements., The means II, the section i2 and the packing means I3 being iden- ;ticalwith the same 4elements of the previously described form of the invention it is believed unnecessary to specifically describe them at this point and reference is hereby made to the foregoing detailed description o! these elements. It is to be noted, however, that the iiange 30 oi the section ills oithe same diameter as the flange 54 and that boltsr'li extend through the openings `31 in the flange I0, and the openings 82 inthe base ilange lil. tThe ilange 4I cooperates with the groove I2 andthe tongue 81 cooperates with the groove I! to properly centralize and align the several parts of the assembly. With this construction the. tightening of the nuts 1U necessary to cut the innerca'sing I at asuitable point abovethe `upperiendoi the base 50 afterl! and the in'terior of the casing on the studs or bolts 15 actuates or compresses the packing 40,'the packing and the packing 59 and holdsfthe several parts of the head in their proper assembled relation. It will be noted that the spider 22 projects downwardly into the outer casing O with substantial clearance so that above to form a support or securing means for the upper end of the outer casing. The drilling of the well may then bev continued until the well `is of' the desired depth whereupon the inner string of casing I is run into the well and ce'- mented. During the deepening of the well or drilling of the well through the casing O it may be'necessary or desirabley to provide a blowout preventer at the upper end ofthe well to control the well in the event that high pressures are encountered. A blowoutpreventer of any desirable type may bei readily secured to the base l50 by meansof the iiftting'i andthe pipe or part 63 or lthe like; Ityis 'tofbe understood that the` tting 56 isidisconhectedfor removed from the base 50 when/ fthe inner"I asing- I is run into the well and set. An auxili' f'spider or other means may be employed to vrlrigtlie casing I into the well. The innercasing `cut oi to project a suitable distance above the. body 5I.

` under a desirable tension. The recesses "lo 'eon- The b ody 5| may be readily positioned on the base 50 so that its tongue 61 bears on the packing 59. vThe spider 22 is then arranged in the body so that its shoulder 23' rests on the seat or shoulder 66. The slips 25'- are then .inserted in n the spider to grip the inner casing I arid maintain the tension on the inner casing. The'packing is positioned and the ring 31 arrangedjaboiit the upper end part of the inner casing Iso that its tongue or flange 44 bears on the packing-. The ring 31 may carry the packing 40 and the vupper section I2 is arranged in position sof that its tongue or flange 4| bears on the packing Q0, The studs or bolts 15 are .then inserted and the-nuts 16 tightened down so that the body 5| is proper- 1y secured to the base-5o and the upper section i2 'is properly secured to the-body. 'Iightening of the nuts 16 also compresses and actuates the packingj, 43, and 59. The means I3 effectively seals about the inner casing I and'packs ofi' between theinner casing ,I and the body 5I thus sealing off the upper end of the annular space between the inner and outer easings. The lmeans il dependably suspends theinner casingI- i'rom its upper end and may maintain the innercasing necting the pipes 69 with the upper end ofthe tween the outer casing O and the pipes. It is to be noted that the landing head illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 of the drawings is very simple and compact and` dependably and effectively lands or-secures the upper end of the outer easing O@ v.

' 'f `-section bearing downwardly on the second mentioned packing.

and suspends the inner casing I.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications ofour invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth but wish to reserve to ourselves any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in theart or may fall within the scope of the following claims: 1

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A casing head including a body adapted to' be connected with the casing of a well, the body having an opening in vertical alignment Iwith the opening in the casing. a seat in the body, a spider arranged in the body andresting on said seat. there being a iiuld port in the wall oi' the body above the seat, and slips in the spider for sus.

pending an inner casing.

2. A casing head including a bodyadapted tof spider for carrying an inner casing, an upper secy tion secured to the body, Docking carried by ythe body, a member surrounding the inner 'casing and bearing on the packing, and packing on the member sealing about the inner casing engaged and held under `pressure by the upper section whereby the first mentioned packing is held underpressure by the member.l

3. A casing head including a body adapted to be applied to the casing of a well,y the body'having an `opening registering with and forming a continuation' of the opening in the casing, a.. spider arranged in the body opening, slips in v"the spider for carrying an inner casing, 'an up;-

per section secured to the body, an upwardly 'fac-,= y

the shoulder, a member surrounding the inner casing and bearing on said packing, packing on the upper' s'ideof the member operable to seal ing shoulder in the body, packing for sealing with'g,`

about'the innercasing and seal with the member,

and a part on the upper section bearing downwardlyonfthesecond mentioned packing. 4. A casing head including a body adapted to be applied to the casing of a well, the body havingan openingregistering with and forming la continuation of the opening in the casing, a spider I arranged in the body opening, slips in the spider` for carryingan inner casing, an upper section secured to the-body, an upwardly facing shoulder on the body, Lan adjacent upwardly facing shoulder. on the spider, a packing;v ring seated on and' adapted .to seal with the shoulders, a member surrounding the inner casing `above the spider,v a body of packing adapted to seal between the member and inner casing, a part on the upper sectionV bearingdownwardly on the body of packing to actuate the, same, the body of packing transmitting thejdojwnward pressure to the mem-4 ber, and a parti-ion the member bearing downwardly on said packing ring to actuate the same.

5. A casing head'including a body adapted to be applied to the-casing of a well, the body having an opening registering with and forming a continuation of 'the vopening in the casing, a spider arranged in Vthe body`opening, slips in the spider for carrying 'ein inner casing, an upper secl n `.ticn secured to the body, an upwardlyv facing outer casing O maintain the communication beshoulder in the body,; packingr for sealing with the shoulder, a member in-the upper section sur- "rounding the inner casing and bearing on said packing, .packing on'the upper -side of the member operable to seal ab'outthe inner ca's'ing and .seal' witlr themember, and a part on the upper t; tA casing head including a body adapted to be applied to the casing offa well, the bodyhavy ing an opening registeringv with 4and forming a and means for sealing between the body andthe ingr on the packing, packing for sealing with the inner casing and the member, and a part on the upper section'bearingon the lastnamed packing to aotuate boththe packings. et

`'7. A head for a well including'a body adapted 10` to be connected with the upper end of a `well casing and having a vertical openingin communicanon with the casina. an upwardly facing shoulder on the interior Aoi' the body. the body having a fluid pori; in itswall above the `:shoulder and an p internal recess extending downwardly through the shoulder, a spider seated on the shoulder and projecting downwardly` into said casing with clearance whereby said casing communicates with the port through the recess. and slips in the spider for carrying an inner casing.

- HARRY P. W'ICKERSHAM.

ERWIN BURNS. 

